BELVIDERE - Belvidere Superintendent Michael Houselog expressed disappointment about losing in the pursuit to next lead the Johnston School District, about 10 miles northwest of Des Moines, in Iowa.

The Iowa school district’s Board of Education approved offering a superintendent’s contract to Dr. Corey Lunn, who has been serving as the top administrator of Stillwater Area Public Schools in Minnesota.

“Personally I was attracted to the position because my daughter Amy and her family live in central Iowa very close to Johnston,” Houselog said in an email. “I was honored to be among the ninety qualified candidates who completed application materials, the seven who interviewed with the board, and finally to interview with the community as one of the two finalists.

“I wish Dr. Lunn and the school district continued success.”

Lunn has until Thursday to decide whether to take the offer. In the interim, Houselog’s contract expires in 2017. Houselog would have moved closer to family and seen his salary move from $197,000 to $225,000 if the Johnston school board had chosen him.

A few years ago, he was named a finalist for the Dubuque School District superintendent position.